Posts Tagged ‘Heart Problems’

Anemia and Kidney Dialysis Patients

Comments: 0September 8th, 2011 by admin



A large percentage of chronic kidney failure patients suffer from anemia, but what makes them so susceptible to this problem?

Most people think their kidneys do only one thing – purify the blood. But among other things, the kidneys secrete the important hormone erythropoietin (also known as EPO), which controls red blood cell production (the amount of iron in your diet is also important). The EPO tells your bone marrow to make more red blood cells. As kidney failure progresses (indeed even before you know you are suffering from kidney failure), your kidneys ability to produce erythropoietin is reduced, so your bone marrow receives less signals to spring into action and so less red blood cells are produced. This is anemia.

As the concentration of red blood cells reduces, your blood carries less and less oxygen, and symptoms of anemia start to be obvious when your kidneys have dropped to around 45% of their usual ability. As kidney failure increases, you become more anemic. Telltale signs of anemia are fatigue, shortness of breath, feeling cold all the time, looking pale, problems concentrating, headaches, and sometimes chest pains. Women also have changes in their period, while men may have trouble with erections.

Your heart now has to work harder than normal, because with less red blood cells and thus less oxygen being carried by your blood, you need more blood pumping around to give you a chance of extracting enough oxygen as you go about your daily life. This in turn can lead to heart problems (and a surprisingly large percentage of chronic kidney failure patients have heart problems). One of the four heart chambers enlarges and chronic kidney failure patients suffer often suffer from left ventricular hypertrophy, also known as LVH.

So if you have several of the symptoms of anemia listed above, it is important to see your doctor and have anemia blood tests carried out. Your doctor will probably also recommend that you have some tests for kidney failure carried out as well, just to be on the safe side.

Fortunately anemia can be treated. This usually involves for kidney failure patients injections of EPO and iron supplements. (Iron supplements, because if the iron content of your body is too low, EPO can’t do its job properly – red blood cells have iron as an important constituent, present in haemoglobin as the part of the molecule that carries the oxygen around.)

As your diet can affect the amount of iron in your body, and hence your ability to produce red blood cells, you may also wish to consult your renal dietary consultant – it isn’t simply a case of eating any food that contains iron. Some foods increase your ability to excrete iron, and some combinations of foods are not suitable for kidney dialysis patients.

As kidney failure patients have a hard enough time as it is, reducing problems due to anemia makes life a little bit more bearable for them. One last word – if you see a charity or hospital asking for help to buy dialysis machines – give generously.

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Crack Cocaine Addiction – Leave it All Behind!

Comments: 0August 4th, 2011 by admin



Crack…a powerful stimulant drug; this form of cocaine comes in a rock crystal that is heated to produce vapours, which are smoked, people who use it form the strongest addiction. Why is it called crack? The term “crack” refers to the crackling sound produced by the rock as it is heated.

There are basically three routes that are commonly used by crack addicts…Snorting, or inhalation of cocaine powder through the nose, injecting, wherein of course a needle is used to release the cocaine directly into the blood stream, and smoking, inhaling cocaine vapour or smoke into the lungs, where absorption into the bloodstream is as rapid as by injection. There are two forms of cocaine: hydrochloride salt and freebase. The salt dissolves in water. People can take it in a vein or in the nose. The freebase form can be smoked. The intensity and duration of cocaine’s effects, which include increased energy, reduced fatigue, and mental alertness, depend on the route of drug administration.

No matter how cocaine is taken, it is dangerous. Some of the most common serious problems include Heart problems, including heart attacks, Nervous system problems, including strokes, Respiratory effects, including respiratory failure, and Digestive problems. Any of these can be fatal.

Cocaine and Dopamine

Cocaine is a strong central nervous system stimulant that increases levels of dopamine, a brain chemical associated with pleasure and movement, in the brain’s reward circuit. Certain brain cells, or neurons, use dopamine to communicate. Normally, dopamine is released by a neuron in response to a pleasurable signal (e.g., the smell of good food), and then recycled back into the cell that released it, shutting off the signal between neurons.

Cocaine acts by preventing the dopamine from being recycled, causing excessive amounts of dopamine to build up, amplifying the message, and ultimately disrupting normal communication. It is this excess of dopamine that is responsible for cocaine’s euphoric effects. With repeated use, cocaine can cause long-term changes in the brain’s reward system and in other brain systems as well, which may eventually lead to addiction. With repeated use, tolerance to the cocaine high also often develops.

Currently, there are no medications for treating cocaine addiction, but rehab centres do have certain kind of plans that will surely help a crack addict to establish a better life without the crack. Behavioural interventions-particularly, cognitive-behavioural therapy-have been shown to be effective for decreasing cocaine use and preventing relapse. Treatment must be tailored to the individual patient’s needs in order to optimize outcomes-this often involves a combination of treatment, social supports, and other services.

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Hemochromatosis – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Methods

Comments: 0February 16th, 2010 by admin



Hemochromatosis is an inherited condition of abnormal iron metabolism; it is not a blood disease. This disease is the result of an abnormality, usually a single site mutation, in the HFE gene, which is located near the HLA complex and produces a glycoprotein. It is the main iron overload disorder. Signs and symptoms of hereditary hemochromatosis usually appear in midlife, although they may occur earlier. The most common complaint is joint pain, but hereditary hemochromatosis can also cause a number of other symptoms, including fatigue, abdominal pain and impotence. It is characterized by improper processing by the body of dietary iron which causes iron to accumulate in a number of body tissues, eventually causing organ dysfunction. Individuals with hemochromatosis absorb too much iron from the diet. Genetic or hereditary hemochromatosis is mainly associated with a defect in a gene called HFE, which helps regulate the amount of iron absorbed from food. It is a disorder that interferes with iron metabolism, which results in too much iron in the body.If left untreated, hereditary hemochromatosis can result in the progressive accumulation of iron in the liver, pancreas, heart, joints, and pituitary gland leading to potentially serious complications including cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes, and heart problems. Primary hemochromatosis (also termed hereditary hemochromatosis or idiopathic hemochromatosis) is an autosomal recessive disorder.

The genetic defect of hemochromatosis is present at birth, but symptoms rarely appear before adulthood. Type I Hemochromatosis is also called classic hemochromatosis is due to mutations of HFE, a gene located on chromosome 6. A person who inherits the defective gene from both parents may develop hemochromatosis. If hereditary hemochromatosis is suspected, your doctor will order a genetic blood test to look for the HFE mutation that is responsible for the disorder. Hemochromatosis is also known as iron overload, bronze diabetes, hereditary hemochromatosis and familial hemochromatosis. Most people with hereditary hemochromatosis show no signs of the illness until they are middle-aged. They might have only mild signs, like tiredness, or they might have arthritis or impotence. HFE interacts with the transferrin receptor and causes a clear decrease in the affinity with which the receptor binds transferrin. This interaction also may modulate cellular iron uptake and decrease ferritin levels. Patients who receive multiple blood transfusions also develop iron overload, occasionally termed hemosiderosis or secondary hemochromatosis. In rare cases, iron overload begins before birth. These cases are called neonatal hemochromatosis.

Causes of Hemochromatosis

The common causes and risk factor’s of Hemochromatosis include the following:

Hereditary hemochromatosis can occur when a person inherits two mutated copies of a gene called the HFE gene- one from each parent. Men and women have the same chance of inheriting two copies of this gene. People who inherit the HFE gene mutation from both parents. Certain anemias, such as thalassemia and aplastic anemia. It can also result from blood transfusions and over consumption of dietary iron, especially among people with a genetic predisposition to accumulate iron. Bronze colored skin. Hereditary hemochromatosis is passed by an autosomal recessive trait on the genes. Chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (“steato” means “fatty”).
Symptoms of Hemochromatosis

Some sign and symptoms related to Hemochromatosis are as follows:

Chronic fatigue. Loss of drive (libido) or impotence. Abdominal pain. Arthritis. Depression, disorientation, or memory problems. Early menopause. Abnormal pigmentation of the skin, making it look gray or bronze. Thyroid deficiency. Damage to the adrenal gland. Liver disease, including an enlarged liver, cirrhosis, cancer, and liver failure. Damage to the pancreas, possibly causing diabetes.
Treatment of Hemochromatosis

Here is list of the methods for treating Hemochromatosis:

Doctors can treat hemochromatosis safely and effectively by removing blood from your body (phlebotomy) on a regular basis, just as if you were donating blood. Treatment involves the removal of 500 milliliters (about 15 ounces) of blood weekly until normal plasma iron levels are established. Once iron levels return to normal, maintenance therapy, which involves giving a pint of blood every 2 to 4 months for life, begins. Some people may need it more often. Avoid taking vitamin C supplements, especially with food. Vitamin C increases absorption of iron. Try to drink vitamin C-rich juices, such as orange juice, between meals. Another approach to treatment is called chelation therapy, in which a medication called deferoxamine (Desferal) binds to iron, removing it from the body and lowering the amount of stored iron. Loss of desire and change in secondary characteristics are improved with testosterone therapy.

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Natural Ways to Beat Endometriosis

Comments: 0August 7th, 2009 by admin



There are different dietary and herbal supplements that can be taken to help alleviate symptoms caused by endometriosis. That being said, before taking any form of supplement, you should always consult your doctor first. This is especially important for any woman who suffers from kidney, liver or heart problems.

The following is a breakdown of the common types of dietary (vitamins and minerals) supplements used to treat endometriosis:

Vitamins

B Vitamins – biotin, choline, cobalamin, folic acid, inositol, niacin, PABA, panthothenic acid, pyridoxine, and riboflavin -Every member of the B vitamin family works to breakdown carbohydrates, fat and protein in the body. Folic acid is particularly important as it distributes oxygen to tissue, and a deficiency in this particular B vitamin can cause anemia. B vitamins also help to improve emotional symptoms caused by endometriosis.

Vitamin C – helps build and preserve collagen in the body, simulates the immune system, encourages healing, and resists disease. Caution: Although fruit is an excellent source of vitamin C, it also contains bioflavinoids that can mirror estrogen effects on the body and cause severe cramping.

Vitamin E – helps strengthen immune system. When taken with selenium it can decrease inflammation associated with endometriosis. Caution: Women should not take vitamin E supplements if they are on anticoagulants.

Minerals

Calcium – approximately two weeks before menstruating, calcium levels decrease in women. This drop in levels can result in headaches, pelvic pain and muscle cramps. Note: Calcium requires vitamin D to be absorbed into the body; therefore, if taking a calcium supplement, ensure it contains vitamin D.

Iron – During menses, the average woman loses an estimated 30 mg of iron, and some women who have endometriosis may lose even more due to heavy menses. Iron deficiency can cause weakness, serious fatigue and mental haziness.

Potassium – aids in muscle contraction, heart rate regulation, and the balance of body fluids among other things. Women who experience diarrhea during their menses can become deficient in Potassium which can result in bloating, fatigue, and weakness.

Magnesium – Helps to relieve cramping during menstruation. Magnesium deficiency can lead to muscle and/or menstrual cramps.

Zinc – aids in the reproduction of cells and is vital for enzyme activity. It is believed that zinc helps women cope better with their emotions during menstruation and reduces irritability.

Herbal remedies are another form of alternative medicine used to treat endometriosis. The objective of herbal therapy is to decrease pain in endometriosis sufferers, improve pelvis circulation, and establish hormonal balance. The following are a few herbs commonly used to treat endometriosis.

Evening Primrose Oil – These herbal seeds are high in essential fatty acids which boost the production of prostaglandin E1. Caution: women who are prone to seizures should not use this herbal remedy.

Vitex agnus castus – This herb has been considered useful to relieve endometriosis cramping and discomfort during menses because it reduces prolactin. Caution: women taking oral contraceptives should not use this herb as it can reduce contraceptive efficacy.

Cimicifugae racemosae rhizome – This herbal remedy is used to treat many forms of pain such as dysmenorrhea.

Dandelion Tea – This herb helps to alleviate edema and swelling. It is believed that it can aid endometriosis by relieving the congestion in the pelvis.

Colic root – Works as a muscle relaxant, and is used to relieve bowel symptoms and cramping related to endometriosis.

Dong Quai – this herb helps relieve dysmenorrhea, constipation, abdominal discomfort/pain and anemia; conditions related to endometriosis. Caution: this herb should not be taken with anticoagulants as it increases the risk of bleeding.

Dietary supplements and herbs are not the only alternative treatments used to help women with endometriosis. Therapeutic massage can be another beneficial form of treatment.

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Haemochromatosis – Causes, Symptoms, Information With Treatment

Comments: 0January 14th, 2009 by admin



Haemochromatosis is one of the most common hereditary diseases. Its main role is in making red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all parts of the body. When too much iron is taken up it slowly builds up in various parts of the body, including the liver, heart and pancreas. It may be many years before there are any symptoms of haemochromatosis and when problems do arise they are often very vague and can be confused with many other conditions. This is the most common of all the genetic conditions; it is even more common than cystic fibrosis or muscular dystrophy. Sometimes the skin has a ‘sun-tanned’ colour. If the pancreas is affected, diabetic complications may occur. Heart problems such as palpitations and shortness of breath can also happen.

Symptoms of Haemochromatosis

Some Symptoms of Haemochromatosis:

Painful joints

Bronze skin pigmentation

Loss of sex drive

Enlarged liver

Discomfort in the upper stomach

abdominal pain

weight loss

Fatigue

Diabetic symptoms such as excessive thirst and frequent urination.

Treatment of Haemochromatosis

Reducing the amount of iron absorbed by the body – patients are advised to avoid iron-rich foods and alcohol.

Removing excess iron from the body by removing blood from the body (venesection therapy or phlebotomy), often a pint a week, until iron levels in the blood are normal.

Avoiding vitamin supplements containing vitamin C and iron

Avoiding excessive red meat and liver in the diet

Sexual dysfunction and arthritis do not usually improve. Indeed arthritis may appear later even if absent at the time of diagnosis and treatment.

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